Responsible Gambling

Betting should add a bit of spice to a match, not put your week's money at risk. Most people who enjoy it keep it that way by setting a few simple rules for themselves before they start. This page is about those rules, and about what to do if things start to slip.

A few habits worth keeping

• Decide what you're willing to spend before you open the app, and stop there. Treat it like the price of a night out, money you've already accepted is gone.
• Never bet to win back a loss. Chasing is how a small dent turns into a big one.
• Don't bet with money meant for rent, food, school fees or family. That money has a job already.
• Set a time as well as a budget. If you said one hour, leave when the hour is up, win or lose.
• Don't bet to fix a bad mood or because you're bored. It works best as entertainment, not a cure.

Tools built into the account

BetWinner has settings that take the willpower out of it. You can put a cap on how much you deposit in a day, week or month, set reminders that nudge you after a set time, and switch on a self-exclusion that locks you out for a chosen stretch if you need to step away completely. They sit in your account settings, and turning them on takes a minute.

Signs it's stopped being fun

Worth an honest look now and then. If any of these ring true, it's a signal to ease off:

• You bet more than you planned, more often than you meant to.
• You've borrowed money, or sold something, to keep betting.
• You hide how much you bet from the people close to you.
• Losing leaves you anxious or short-tempered for hours.
• You've tried to cut down and couldn't.

If you need to step back

There's no shame in it, and doing it early is the smart move. Start with a self-exclusion in your account so the door is shut while you decide. Talk to someone you trust, it's easier to keep to a plan when you're not the only one who knows about it. If betting is affecting your money, your sleep or your relationships, treat it as a health matter and speak to a doctor or counsellor you have access to locally.

For under-18s

Betting is strictly for adults. If you're not 18 yet, none of this is for you, and any account you open can be closed and winnings voided. Keep your phone and accounts where younger people in the house can't reach them.

The aim is simple: enjoy the game, stay in control, and keep betting as the small thing on the side it's meant to be.